Leo Goodwin leaving TransPennine Express

Leo Goodwin, Managing Director of TransPennine Express, will leave his position on March 5. He had been with First Rail since 1999, and had held various roles in train operating companies, on bid teams and developing company’s East Coast open access company.

Goodwin was MD of the TPE franchise since it began on April 1 2016, but has recently received criticism regarding the TOC’s poor performance.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Leo for his contribution to First Rail. We wish him every success in his future career,” said First Rail MD Steve Montgomery.

TPE Finance Director Liz Collins replaces Goodwin as Interim MD while a permanent successor is sought. His departure came in the same week that Northern MD David Brown also left his post (and was replaced by a former TPE MD in Nick Donovan).

Director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership Henri Murison said: “The changes made by First Group, with Leo Goodwin leaving his position as Managing Director of Trans Pennine Express, is a welcome signal that the reckless shambles of the last December timetable change and previous errors in leadership, such as resisting legitimate press and wider scrutiny, have been rightly put at his door. He was warned by elected leaders in West Yorkshire, he was warned by experienced operational leaders in the rail industry; yet he still started running a timetable without necessary workforce agreements or enough trained drivers for instance.”